Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1937)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 45 "[It is] a ridiculous farce. . . A waste-oftime-picture in which the actors deserve much better types than caricatures and unconvincing roles. Mature." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women Fox W Coast Bui O 16 '37 "[It is] a ridiculous, but most entertaining farcical comedy. Family." + Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) O 6 '37 "Suitability: family." T. G. Mo Film Bui p220 O '37 "It is seldom that slapstick comedy attains real distinction, but in this hilarious play, John Boles and Jack Oakie succeed in raising it to this level. . . The play is good entertainment for the family's evening at the movies and should appeal alike to young and old. Adolescents, 12-16: good; children, 8-12: mature." + Motion Pict R p6 O '37 "Adults." Nat Legion of Decency O 7 '37 "A, T & C: good." Parents' M p74 D '37 "Family." Sel Motion Pict p7 N 1 '37 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Dialect comedians and Jack Oakie's wisecracking constitute the principal attractions of a passably entertaining film. Adults and young people." -j Christian Science Monitor pl7 O 30 '37 "Jack Oakie shoulders the brunt of this minor comedy, and at times it seems to be too much even for his infectious grin and giggling asides. Some of the material he is provided with in "Fight For Your Lady' is genuinely amusing, but more of it is merely broad burlesque and it falls heavily and flat." Jesse Zunser f Cue p38 N 20 '37 "Strangely enough, John Boles and Jack Oakie make a good team. . . Together they put on an entertaining little show in 'Fight for Tour Lady.' That is, it will prove entertaining if you can check your sense of credibility at the door, for the story, I warn, is rather far-fetched." Bert Harlen + Hollywood Spec pl2 O 2 '37 "The story is one of the silliest Hollywood has tackled, but Mr. Bole's voice and brisk performances by Mr. Oakie and Miss Lupino help quite a lot." Eileen Creelman — + N Y Sun p28 N 19 '37 "A fumbling, unoriginal and infantile farce, 'Fight for Your Lady' comes unpleasantly close to being the composite year's worst picture." F. S. Nugent NY Times p21 N 20 '37 "Except for a delightfully comic performance by the inimitable Jack Oakie and some good, if not exceptional, work by the other principals in the cast, there is very little to recommend in the pedestrian and stereotyped farcecomedy." William Boehnel r N Y World-Telegram p9 N 20 '37 "[It is an] unpretentious comedy of love on the rebound." H Newsweek p30 N 1 '37 Trade Paper Reviews "Audiences will greet this subtle farce with howls of laughter that should mean money in the cash-drawer, and RKO Radio's consistently improving standard reaches a new high in program offerings. Family." + Boxoffice pl9 O 2 '37 "A bunch of swell gags makes this farce highly enjoyable. With Jack Oakie romping around in his best style, things which bring forth an abundance of laughter are always happening." + Film Daily p9 S 28 '37 -f Motion Pict Daily p3 S 25 '37 "Good direction keeps picture moving at rapid pace. Preview audience expressed complete enjoyment. Estimate: good comedy." + Phila Exhibitor p22 O 1 '37 "[It] is a B picture that comes closer to being an A than most of the former aspire to. . . [It will be] a strong support for any picture with it, either as the No. 1 or No. 2 feature." + Variety pl2 O 20 '37 " 'Fight for Your Lady' is the type of picture that will click with any kind of audience. . . The film is one of the snappiest comedies of the season. It hasn't a boring moment." -f Variety (Hollywood) p3 S 24 '37 FIRST LADY. Warner 82min D 4 '37 Cast: Kay Francis. Anita Louise. Verree Teasdale. Louise Fazenda. Walter Connolly Director: Stanley Logan Screen writer: Rowland Leigh Based on the play of the same title by George S. Kaufman and Katharine Dayton. It portrays a behind-the-scene intimate view of how two politically ambitious wives of cabinet members in official Washington society try to further their husband's careers. See issue of September 27, 1937 for other reviews of this film Audience Suitability Ratings "Stanley Logan's direction emphasizes the fact that this is a conversation piece, but since the dialogue is generally excellent the production will more than satisfy." T. J. Fitzmorris + America p216 D 4 '37 "A: very good of kind; Y: perhaps; C: little or no interest." Christian Century pl542 D 8 '37 "A sprightly, satirical portrayal of the part women play in the great game of national politics. . . Good fun for mature audiences." Am Legion Auxiliary "This [is] delightful light entertainment for all." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "The idea of the picture is a clever one and the keen-edged dialogue with sufficient dramatic quality will hold one's interest despite flaws in production. Mature." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "Excellent. Mature." DAR "Settings are charming, dialogue and comedy are subtle and delicious, and the characterizations are exceptionally vivid. Mature." Nat Soc of New England Women "This picture provides exceptional entertainment. Mature." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women Fox W Coast Bui S 18 '37 "Scintillating entertainment. Mature." Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) S 8 '37 "Adolescents, 12-16: harmless but not particularly interesting; children, 8-12: no interest." Motion Pict R p5 S '37 "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency S 30 '37 "A: excellent; Y: mature; C: no interest." Parents' M pl04 N '37 + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; H Fair; h Mediocre; —Poor; Exceptionally Poor